Adam Sencenbaugh has tried more than 20 cases to jury verdict. He represents clients in employment litigation and general civil litigation in arbitration, federal court, state court, the State Office of Administrative Hearings ("SOAH"), and various state administrative agencies. Adam serves as a trusted advisor to clients navigating a wide range of employment law issues, including compliance with Title VII, § 1981, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, and FLSA. Adam's employment litigation practice is focused on defending clients against claims of systemic discrimination prosecuted by the EEOC, as well as protecting employers against unfair competition and breaches of fiduciary duties. Adam also served as co-counsel for a coalition of 88 school districts in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state's current school finance system. This lawsuit, which was tried over the course of 16 weeks, culminated in a 382-page decision from State District Judge John Dietz in August 2014, holding Texas's school finance system unconstitutional on all of the grounds asserted by Haynes and Boone's clients.

While working at Haynes and Boone, Adam served as a volunteer prosecutor for the city of Houston, where he prosecuted thousands of misdemeanor cases for the state of Texas. Prior to joining the firm, Adam completed a federal district court clerkship and served as an intern in the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas in Austin.

Adam was selected for inclusion in Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, for Employment Defense Litigation and Environmental Defense Litigation, 2015; and Business Litigation, 2014-2017.

Bar Admissions
Texas, 2007

Mississippi, 2008

Education
J.D., University of Texas at Austin, School of Law, 2007, with honors; Order of the Coif; Texas Law Review
B.A., University of Southern Mississippi, 2003, summa cum laude

Significant Accomplishments
Won injunctive relief against Republic of Albania in federal court regarding production sharing contract on behalf of Texas-based oil and gas company.

Represented two major energy companies in appeal of TCEQ Administrative Order to remediate Texas state Superfund Site.

Won summary judgment for national trucking company against discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII.

Obtained set-aside of default judgment taken against out-of-state commercial real estate developer.

Defended national movie theater chain in wage and hour cases alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Prevailed in two-week trial before the State Office of Administrative Hearings regarding protest of Class I Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit application.

Advised and represented clients on Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) issues in federal court.

Defended multiple clients during EEOC investigations and litigation involving Title VII discrimination claims.

Prevented disclosure of client trade secrets and confidential information for numerous clients contracting with state and federal government agencies.

Represented numerous clients before various state agencies, including the Texas Real Estate Commission, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, and the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

• Employment Issues under the Families First Coronavirus Act of 2020

  By Adam Sencenbaugh |March 2020

• DOL Defines “Reasonable Relationship” Between Exempt Employees’ Guaranteed Salary and Actual Earnings

  By Adam Sencenbaugh |November 2018

• Department of Labor Rescinds 20 Percent Rule for Tipped Employees

  By Adam Sencenbaugh |November 2018